The Navy (Semar) requested 171 million 934 thousand 455 pesos to expand the rail capacity of the port of Coatzacoalcos , a project that seeks to reduce times and costs, in addition to improving the efficiency of operations and increasing competitiveness.
In addition, it seeks to enhance the benefits of the trans-isthmus trainconnecting to the port of Salina Cruz, which will add more cargo, as well as other tenders currently underway.
According to the cost-benefit analysis, there is a reduced service capacity for a third maneuver due to the increase in freight on this infrastructure.
“With the increase in cargo entering the port of Coatzacoalcos triggered by the Multipurpose Terminal (TUM), infrastructure is currently being developed to meet demand, making it equally essential to increase the capacity of the rail infrastructure,” he explained.
Additionally, he mentioned that there is a shortage of merchandise movement between the new TUM and the new concessioned yards, which are disconnected from the third maneuver, making it impossible to transport products to and from outside the port area.
“A critical area designated for new concessionaires lacks rail infrastructure for land freight transportation, because the concessioned areas were not part of the port area,” he clarified.
In this regard, he specified that the works refer to carrying out a connection to the access railway to the National Port System Administration (Asipona) Coatzacoalcos for the diversion of four tracks with a length of 1,536 meters, whose purpose is to have a maneuvering yard that allows the coupling and uncoupling of trains, better management in times of man-hours and equipment-hours.
The expansion, he indicated, would begin at km 0+800, near the city’s storm drain connector , with a maximum gradient of 2.11% and a maximum curvature of nine degrees. This will also prevent interference in the operation of laying and removing the exit track to Villahermosa, and avoid the collision of trains measuring 1,500 kilometers in length.
The document specified that construction of this project would take two years, so it is expected to begin operations by 2027.
Additionally, the preservation of existing roads must be guaranteed , for which a maintenance program will be implemented, allocating 97 million 829 thousand 33 pesos over a period of 27 years.
The Navy mentioned that the port of Coatzacoalcos has two facilities: one for commercial cargo and Pajaritos, where the Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) maritime terminal and the Asipona multipurpose terminal are located.
Of the total commercial cargo handled, 7.8% is general cargo, 1.7% is containerized, 20.7% is mineral bulk, 21.2% is agricultural bulk, 33.3% is fluids, and 15.4% is intermodal.
Of the volume traded, 19.5% is exported, 59.8% is imported, 5.4% is cabotage, and 15.4% is intermodal.
“There is currently an operating deficit of 380,866 tons per year in the third phase, resulting from the implementation of planned projects and the transfer of rights being carried out in 2025,” he said.
Comment and follow us on X: @evandeltoro / @GrupoT21
